CHAPTER 252: CHAPTER 252: WHAT EXACTLY DID YOU PUT IN JOY’S SACHET?

Tanya Sinclair finished her work, checked the time, and thought it was about time to pick up Caden.

Now that her work at Westgard Pharmaceuticals was wrapping up, she had some flexibility with her schedule. However, once she transferred to The Veridia Base project, a nanny would be necessary to help care for the child.

Fortunately, Aunt Tawny would arrive in a couple of days to help share the load.

Tanya drove to Caden’s school. While waiting in her car, she replied to a minor question from one of her employees. When she looked up, she saw Vincent Hawthorne’s car driving up.

Tanya was a bit surprised.

She hadn’t expected Vincent to find the time to pick up Joy, especially with the current turmoil at The Lynn Family.

Tanya waited in her car for a while, noticing that Vincent was alone when he got out; Cindy Lynn hadn’t come. So, she opened her door and walked straight toward Vincent.

As she approached, she noticed that Vincent looked different.

Known for his cleanliness and born with a silver spoon, Vincent always appeared immaculate and handsome in front of others, groomed to perfection from head to toe.

But the Vincent before her now seemed visibly more worn and weary, his hair somewhat disheveled, and his shirt wasn’t as crisp and wrinkle-free as before.

It seemed that in just a few days, Vincent had aged several years.

Locking eyes with Tanya, Vincent’s gaze paused slightly, and he twisted his lips ambiguously, saying, "It seems you’re living it up more and more since the divorce."

After the divorce, he felt a sense of unfamiliarity every time he saw Tanya.

She was still the same person with the same face, yet she seemed to be growing increasingly radiant and beautiful.

It was as if a vitality he had never seen before was breaking through the surface.

Vincent’s throat inexplicably itched, and he instinctively retrieved his pack of cigarettes but, thinking about the school setting, put it away again.

There were too many disputes between them, not suitable for small talk.

Vincent went straight to the point, saying, "If Caden needs anything, I’ll have someone send it over. If he wants to come back and you’re busy, give me a call..."

At this, Vincent paused, remembering that Tanya had already blocked him. He corrected himself, "Call the driver and have him pick him up. I don’t have the time to go over in the next few days."

"Caden is fine, doesn’t want for anything." Tanya looked at the bluish stubble on Vincent’s chin, knowing it was still for Cindy Lynn.

For the sake of the two children, she gently reminded him, "You can’t help with Sean Lynn’s situation. There’s no need to trouble yourself."

"You can help but won’t." Vincent looked up at Tanya.

How ridiculous, he was even disappointed in her.

Tanya didn’t dodge his gaze, confronting him directly, calmly, yet sharply.

"Yes, not only won’t I help, I’ll make sure to hold The Lynn Family accountable! Vincent Hawthorne, you’d best stay out of this mess, or I won’t spare you either!"

Vincent pressed his dry lips together, even noticing a hint of tears in Tanya’s eyes—it was pure hatred.

He didn’t understand.

Why did Tanya hate so much?

Sure, Sean Lynn abandoned them, but didn’t her mother, Charlotte Sinclair, cheat just the same?

"Tanya..."

Vincent wanted to say more, but Tanya didn’t want to continue the topic with him and just said, "The sachet Cindy gave Joy contains not only herbal medicine but also some chemical components. It’s not good for a child’s body. If you don’t believe me, check it yourself."

Vincent instinctively denied it.

"Cindy would never hurt Joy, and for Joy and Caden’s sake, Cindy even underwent a tubal ligation surgery!"

She gave up on having children just so she could raise Joy as her own daughter. How could she possibly hurt Joy?

Tanya looked at the way Vincent defended Cindy and only felt it was ridiculous.

"You believe everything she says, Vincent Hawthorne, did you grow a head just to be taller? Try using your brain once in a while."

As they spoke, Caden came out of the school.

"Mommy, Daddy!"

Tanya and Vincent adjusted their expressions with surprising harmony, waving and smiling at Caden.

Tanya turned back and quietly warned, "Vincent Hawthorne, I don’t care about you and Cindy Lynn, but my child cannot be used or harmed by her! If anything happens to Joy because of your negligence, I won’t spare you!"

Saying that, Tanya warmly smiled as she approached Caden, taking his backpack from him.

At that moment, Joy also came out.

Beside her was Abby, whom they hadn’t seen for a while.

Joy was animatedly talking to Abby, but her face fell as soon as she saw Tanya, while Abby politely greeted Tanya.

"Hello, Aunt Sinclair."

Abby really liked Tanya, and envied Joy for having such a good mom.

Tanya beamed back, "Hello, Abby, long time no see."

She looked at her daughter, "Joy..."

Joy buried her head in Vincent Hawthorne’s arms, "Dad, I want to go back, let’s go quickly."

Vincent frowned slightly; this time he did not indulge his daughter, after all, Tanya Sinclair is her biological mother.

"Joy, say goodbye to your mom. You shouldn’t be so rude."

Joy reluctantly turned her face, looked at Tanya Sinclair, and said, "Goodbye."

After speaking, she quickly buried her head in Vincent’s shoulder again, leaving only the back of her head to Tanya Sinclair.

Tanya Sinclair’s eyes dimmed, but she squeezed out a smile, "Goodbye, Joy."

Before leaving, she glanced at the sachet hanging on Joy’s backpack, and Vincent noticed it too.

Tanya Sinclair turned and walked toward the car hand in hand with Caden, with Abby following behind.

She mustered up her courage, "Aunt Sinclair, can you take me back?"

Tanya Sinclair was a bit surprised, "Abby, where are your mom and dad? Isn’t anyone coming to pick you up? I can’t just take you from school without speaking to your family."

Abby held onto her backpack straps with both hands, lowering her head.

It was Caden who spoke, "Mom, Abby doesn’t have a mom."

Tanya Sinclair was taken aback, feeling a bit more compassionate for the thin little girl in front of her.

"Okay, then you can get in the car with Auntie, and give your family a call to let them know. Auntie will take you back."

"Okay. Thank you, Auntie."

Abby obediently responded.

She was a bit smaller than her peers, so Tanya Sinclair picked her up and placed her in the car.

This scene was seen by Joy, who was leaning on Vincent Hawthorne’s shoulder. She pouted and looked away.

"Dad, let’s go quickly."

Vincent Hawthorne watched as Tanya Sinclair’s car drove away, then got in the car with his daughter to go home.

On the way, Vincent intended to talk to Joy about her attitude toward Tanya Sinclair today—hoping to educate his daughter—but he found that his usually energetic child had already fallen asleep in the car.

At the same time, Vincent received a call from Joy’s homeroom teacher, Ms. Underwood.

"Hello, Mr. Hawthorne."

"Ms. Underwood, is there something I can help you with?"

"It’s like this, I was wondering, what time does Joy go to bed at home? Has she been secretly using her phone to watch cartoons after adults have gone to bed? She’s been dozing off and lethargic during the day."

Vincent Hawthorne: "...I’ve been quite busy these past couple of days, so I haven’t kept an eye on her schedule. I’ll ask the nanny when I get back."

Ms. Underwood suggested gently, "Mr. Hawthorne, I know you’re a very busy person, but at Joy’s age, she really needs parental companionship. I heard you and Joy’s mom have divorced. During this stage, it’s especially important to pay attention to Joy’s mental health."

"I understand, Ms. Underwood."

Vincent hung up the phone, looking at the sachet on Joy’s backpack, and thought of what Tanya Sinclair had mentioned earlier. His frown deepened.

Joy had always been a very energetic child, so how did she become so sleepy?

Could it be that there really is something wrong with this sachet?

Vincent made a call to the family doctor, Ian Sullivan, asking him to come over to give Joy a check-up.

When Vincent drove back to the villa, Ian Sullivan arrived as well.

Joy, who had slept the whole journey, had also woken up by then.

"Dad, why is Uncle Sullivan here? Are you feeling unwell?"

Vincent patted his daughter’s head gently, "It’s been a while since your last check-up, so Uncle Sullivan is here to give you a routine check-up. After it’s done, I’ll buy you a strawberry shortcake."

"Okay~"

Joy agreed immediately.

While Ian Sullivan was examining Joy, Vincent took off the small sachet from Joy’s backpack.

He walked into the study, directly cut it open with scissors, and found that aside from some herbs, there were also some powdery substances inside... Vincent frowned slightly, picked up a pinch and smelled it, the chemical fragrance was strong, only masked by the herbs.

Just then, he heard some movement downstairs.

Vincent had just packed up the contents of the sachet when he opened the door to find Cindy Lynn standing there.

"Vincent, what are you busy with?"

She noticed the red and white powder on Vincent’s fingers, a hint of something flickering in her eyes.

Vincent noticed her gaze, boldly grabbed Cindy Lynn’s arm, dragged her to the desk, and directly showed the opened sachet.

He pointed to the red and white powder inside, and sternly questioned, "What exactly did you put in the sachet you gave Joy?"